Baby Millie in Helston pantomine tug-o-war

Pantomime wars have broken out in West Cornwall as a father and son fight for the title of best production and their daughter/granddaughter is caught in the middle of the battle.

Paul Blaber, from Helston, is directing Sleeping Beauty for Redruth Amateur Musical and Pantomime Society (RAMPS) in Penzance, while his son Ben Blaber, who lives in Redruth, is directing Cinderella for Helston Theatre Company (HTC) in Helston.

The men maybe falling out but it's Ben's seven-month-old daughter Millie who is centre stage, as she is playing baby Sleeping Beauty in her grandpa's show in Penzance.

Millie is beating her proud daddy to the stage by two months, as Ben made his stage debut when he was just nine months old, 26 years ago, at the Minack Theatre in The Roses Of Eyam.

Millie has other connections with both shows as her mum Vicky and uncle Seb are doing sound and lighting respectively in Helston.

Meanwhile her other grandad, Mike Kite, is stage manager in Penzance and both her grandmothers are doing the costumes for each show: Julie Kite (nana) is in charge for RAMPS, while Gillian Geer (granny) is sewing for HTC.

Ben was not impressed to discover his dad had even chosen some of the same songs for his own show, leading to plastic prop swords at dawn.

Traditionally good triumphs over evil in pantomimes, but in this story both productions are “good” so the audience will have to decide.

Sleeping Beauty will be performed at St Johns Hall in Penzance between January 16 and 20, with matinees on the Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available by calling 01209 715211 or in person at Penwith Music Shop Penzance.

Cinderella will be performed at the Epworth Hall in Helston on January 23 to 27, also with matinees on the Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can be bought from Heathercraft Fabrics in Helston or by calling 01326 568936.